European Space Agency | Atelier du Pont

After a titanic construction project, the European Space Agency (ESA) headquarters located in the heart of Paris is now ready to welcome the Agency’s staff and representatives of its 22 Member States. This new center for the European space cooperation is an ultra-modern building, flexible and open to the city.

In collaboration with ESA and the developer Sogelym Dixence, the architectural firm Atelier du Pont has designed a place dedicated to the space adventure, blending imagination and knowledge; an architecture inspired by the mystery of matter and the landscapes of our galaxy.

The new headquarters, which offers an innovative working environment for staff and partners, reflects ESA’s evolution and incorporates technologies from the space sector.

A striking refurbishment in the heart of Paris

ESA headquarters have been located in the former Thomson factory in rue Mario Nikis since 1976. In 2017, ESA’s 22 member states validated the proposal to renovate the existing building for two main reasons: an extension to welcome up to 30 delegations and the removal of asbestos from the current building.

The preliminary work began in 2018, when staff moved from rue Mario Nikis to temporary premises nearby for the duration of the works.

This major refurbishment has reconfigured the entire space and optimized the building’s environmental performance.

Inspired by the logo of ESA, the monumental staircase, with its complex shape and no intermediate supports, is made of steel. The structure, made of steel sections and lacquered steel cladding, is inserted into a circular concrete hopper. The balustrades are twisted around the hopper.

The new conference center
In the heart of the block, the new conference center sits on top of two levels of an existing parking. The structure is composed of 15cm- wide welded portal frames with a 1.30m grid, providing a spectacular perspective from the entrance. The glazed roof is made up of glass panels incorporating aluminum slats that let the light in while ensuring privacy.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Adress : rue Mario Nikis, Paris 15th

Client : ESA - European Space Agency

Contracting authority support : Colliers

Developer : Sogelym Dixence

Architect and interior designer of commons spaces :

Atelier du Pont (Anne-Cécile Comar & Philippe Croisier)

Contract management : Corelo

Engineering team : AE75 (construction economics), Ingerop (fluides), VP & Green (structure and façades), Le Sommer (sustainable engineering), Peutz (acoustics), Cosil Peutz (light designer), Convergence (kitchen), Omega Al- liance (asbestos removal and demolition), Socotec (control office and SPS) General contractors : Bouygues Construction renovation private

Office layout and furniture : Majorelle

Surface : 11 592 m2

Date : November 2022

Sustainable specifications : HQE Bâtiment Durable Excellent level, Breeam Very Good level, Well Core and Shell Gold level

Photographers : Frédéric Delangle and ESA - European Space Agency